Accidents Claim Lives of 3 Motorcyclists

Three motorcyclists died Tuesday of injuries suffered in unrelated accidents, according to police authorities.

- In Santa Ana, police said Derrick Mackie, 17, of Santa Ana was riding near First and Main streets about 7 p.m. when a motorist made a left turn in front of him. Mackie swerved to avoid the car but lost control of the cycle and went down, striking his head on a curb. He died shortly after arriving at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. Police said Mackie was wearing a helmet.

The driver of the car was not cited, but police said an investigation is continuing.

- In Huntington Beach, police said Steven Martin Plant, 18, of Westminster, was driving at a high speed when his motorcycle collided with a car at Prince and Gothard streets about 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The driver of the car, Rufino E. Macareno, 33, of Huntington Beach, halted at a stop sign and then pulled out onto Gothard Street, where his car was struck by Plant’s motorcycle, police said. Plant died shortly after he arrived at Fountain Valley Hospital Trauma Center.

Macareno and three passengers in his car were also taken to the Fountain Valley hospital, where Macareno remained in serious condition. His passengers were treated for minor injuries and released, a hospital spokeswoman said.

- In Newport Beach, police said a Santa Ana man died of massive head injuries he suffered in a July 16 motorcycle crash. Nelson Enrique Solano, 28, was riding on Cliff Drive, east of Riverside Drive in Newport Beach, when he lost control of the bike for unknown reasons, police said. They said the cycle fell and Solano, who was not wearing a helmet, struck his head on the pavement.

He was treated by paramedics at the scene and transported to Fountain Valley Community Hospital, where he died at 7:15 a.m. Tuesday.